Normally I'm exclusively a jeans/denim man no matter the weather: Comfortable, cheap, reasonably durable, can wear with anything, acceptable in conservative destinations, can get away with periods of not washing, available to purchase everywhere.

But now I need you my fellow experts to tell me what to wear instead when walking or hitchhiking vast distances in hot climates.

I've been known to walk up to thirteen hours straight carrying all my stuff (currently about 30kg). I don't mind the workout and I sleep like a baby afterwards no matter where I end up.

But in hot summer weather sweat can be prodigious! To the point of destruction of the jeans followed by the inevitable chafing, which does not make the walking more pleasant.

So please, what should I look for to wear instead of jeans to prevent this condition while still having as many benefits I listed in the opening paragraph?

2 Answers
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Lightweight synthetic hiking trousers are designed to allow a comfortable range of motion and to wick away sweat, while still offering some protection against the sun and minor scratches.

Even if not hiking in the back country, they have features that make them excellent travel garments, such as

multiple deep mesh pockets where you can store your map, camera, and so on. Unlike street clothes, these will usually provide a means to seal them such as Velcro or a zipper, providing additional protection against pickpockets as well as ordinary loss.

thin synthetic fabric construction, for some water resistance and comfortable stretching. Many come with treatments for additional protection against UV radiation. They can be impregnated with permethrin to repel insects. Perhaps more importantly, they can be washed with bar soap in a hostel sink, and in warm weather will dry in just a few minutes. Cotton laundry is much bulkier and in humid conditions may still be damp after drying overnight.

built-in belt or straps, negating the need to carry a belt

Some have side zippers to allow for faster changing, and ankle zippers for easier shoe/sock changing. Some have reflective stripes which are invisible in daylight but shine brightly in headlights for better visibility after dark.

Most are polyester or nylon twill, and around where I live in the U.S., they sell for around the same price as a pair of jeans ($50), though you can find them on closeout for far less from the major outdoors retailers.

There are a variety of styles and colors, as you can see from these links to several major US retailers:

Jeans, it must be said, are some of the worst clothes for extended physical activity. Denim absorbs moisture readily, becoming heavy and clammy. They hold moisture against the skin leading to chafing and blisters, as you noted. They are slow to dry, and as every Boy Scout knows, "cotton kills" in the wilderness in anything except the daytime desert. When I will be doing anything more than walking from a hotel room to a convention center on a trip, the only cotton clothes I bring are some T-shirts. Everything else— socks, underwear, jackets, etc.— is at least a synthetic blend, particularly when the weather will be warm or cool.

Shorts can work for some people in some situations, but you expose yourself to sun and to insects, and some people chafe their inner thighs after extended walking in shorts. Moreover, they are not culturally appropriate in much of the world; you could be denied admission to royal facilities and religious sites, at the least.

Awesome answer thanks - very informative. But now I'm wondering what they look like. Do you have references for some? Pictures or links to some kind of shop/store that sells them? I'd be looking for them somewhere like Eastern Europe or Turkey or when I get home to Australia so I'm not sure where to shop for them.
– hippietrailAug 24 '12 at 19:44

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@hippietrail I added a few links to the answer; I'm sure Paddy Pallin and Kathmandu in Australia among others would offer the same products or at least the same brands. I do not have any particular of either to recommend, but I find the REI reviews to be the most useful.
– chosterAug 25 '12 at 3:52

Ouch those are the kinds of expensive name brands I was hoping to avoid but I guess I can look at their stuff then know what I'm looking for in generic brand stuff. Possibly Quechua might have something of this type here in Romania? They seem to have pretty reasonable quality outdoor stuff at pretty reasonable prices.
– hippietrailAug 25 '12 at 11:17

I didn't ever manage to find any cheap generic equivalents on my last trip to Eastern Europe and I'm not managing to find any on this trip to Southeast Asia either )-: Tons of cheap clothes in the street markets but it all seems to be cotton.
– hippietrailAug 30 '13 at 12:12

They take moments to convert and I find them unmatched in versatility. They are thin, light, and quick-drying, which is perfect for strenuous activity. Many brands include UV/insect/odor control features mentioned in @choster's answer. Of course, they are not as bomb-proof as jeans or canvas pants-- that said, I've abused mine in the outdoors and never had them come apart. In colder climates, I layer either merino wool or polypropylene long-johns under them to stay toasty.

I've worn various off-brands, Columbia, and Prana. I like the Prana's most due to the cut (the other ones made my butt look saggy) but YMMV. Also, unlike the competition, they offer their convertible pants with bright colors. In my experience, hitchhiking in bright colors is the way to go because people aren't as afraid of strangers when they wear bright yellow pants. Whatever you decide to buy, stay away from cotton (or anything derived from plant fiber). Cotton kills.

I finally found something like this at an affordable price at an Aldi supermarket in Sydney by pure chance. They were the only pair left and I've been hitchhiking in them for almost seven months now.
– hippietrailFeb 27 '17 at 5:10